Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cellphone]

Anyone seen these two? And, how do they work?

Saw the BridgeLinguatec program. Also saw the "i-to-i" onlinetefl being advertised as well. The latter one seems to be running a discount right now, which would be a bit nicer on my budget at this time.

However, just strictly from a hunch, the first one "bridgelinguatec" seemed to overall promote excellent customer service in the on-site text I read. Something about a long term money back satisfaction guarantee as well as some other things they said, while the latter has something like only 7 days and sounded like was more 'by the book'. Note I haven't dug deep in the research, so wondering what others sensed or actually experienced with either of them. No doubt the overall "service" would be half the deal in case you run into problems or conflicts as well as tutor availability or the like.

I also wonder just exactly how they work. Saw some mention of using cd-roms, does that mean you use cd's to do the lessons, or? And how much of it? Where I'm at right now I have low-speed internet connection and at public internet cafes (no high speed dsl) and no permanent address, so I kinda hope they aren't requiring major downloads. Is most or all of the reading text done straight through HTML web pages, or?

Anyways what does anyone think on either of those..

[Confused Canadian]

I did the "i-to-i" one a couple of years ago to "improve" my resume. Since I'd been teaching for 7 years before I started it, it wasn't difficult. I didn't learn much, but that wasn't my intent. I just wanted to get the fancy diploma to flash in front of prosepective employers. I finished one module a day, and each module was graded by the next day (except weekends, as mentioned on the site) by my marker, with comments, suggestions, and general feedback. I think it was the 7th or 8th module that had the CD-ROM, which was simply a 20 minute ESL class that you had to comment on. The only thing you need the internet for is sending e-mail, and submitting your work through the webpages. I did most of my work off line in Word and then copied and pasted it into the frames on the site when I was ready to submit my work.

As I said, it was pretty much what I expected. I didn't do it to improve my teaching ability. I had no misconceptions about that. However, if I'd done it 9 years ago, before I started teaching, it probably would've helped me, especially the grammar module!

Confused Canadian

[cellphone]

Hmmm ok sounds like for you the i-to-i didn't have any faults as far as customer service and by the sounds of it they were receiving and correcting your work within a day or so.

One module a day, took you most of each day or a few hours each? 20 modules right?

Ok also internet connection is rather minimum then... Then most of it all is just your own assignment? I was just trying to figure out if I'd be spending gobs of minutes reading from the comp screen, or if it's a mostly writing based setup (by the sounds of it you were saying that, I believe).

As for the CD, I guess they would send it snail mail and then I guess I'd just give them the address of the place I'm staying now, hopefully they could get it overseas within a week or so...

[Confused Canadian]

Yeah, overall, no complaints about the "i-to-i" program. No problem with money, and I found them to be professional.

Some modules were longer than others, but no more than a few hours a day. I was working full time (6-8 hours days) at the time, and didn't have much trouble doing one module a day. However, as I said, I'd been teaching for 7 years, so I already had a pretty good grasp on the material.

As for reading off the computer screen...there is a fair bit of that. But it's not reading articles and the like. It's more like a little info, and example, and then a question, and your write your answer. Some of the modules were over 10 'pages", but these are more like website pages than article pages (if that makes any sense at all - sorry, it's late and my brain shut down long ago... ). I viewed the pages on-line, then copied the questions into Word to answer. I did refer to the web pages from time to time while writing my answers.

And yes, the CD is sent by regular post, and it does arrive within a week or so. As I stated earlier, I think it's module 7 or 8. That puts you about a good week and a half into the program is you manage to do a module a day, as I did. I didn't have to wait for the CD to arrive...it arrived before I reached that module.

Confused Canadian

[Derrek]

How many hours does that list as...

I remember looking at that program, but doesn't it have less than 100 hours? A lot of Korean employers want 100 or 120 hours for the certificate to be approved.

[Confused Canadian]

[Derrek]

For now, my employer says they want anything that says TESL.

Many university jobs I've seen expect 100 to 120 hours, and at least one went as far to say "in-class instruction."

[prairieboy]

I'm working on the i-to-i 60 hour course right now. It took about a week to get through the first 5 modules (roughly a module a day and not near the amount of time they estimate).

There are 10 modules in all. I'm waiting to do number 6 because they have changed the CD over to DVD now...in PAL format too. If you don't have a DVD drive on your computer then make sure you ask for the CD, otherwise they'll automatically send you a DVD. The DVD would play on my PS2 but because the DVD is PAL and my PS2 is NTSC format, I couldn't see anything but could hear. (Nice except that many questions in module 6 have to do with what you see)

The 40 hour course is just 10 modules. The 60 hour couse is the 10 modules plus a 20 hour grammar module (again, it doesn't take 20 hours to do...10 tops).

If you go with any online course that offers you the option of picking the currency to pay in, be sure to check out the exchange rates. I saved $30CAD by choosing to pay in USD instead of CAD. If you go with i-to-i while they've got their special on, this means you'll save even more.

Cheers

If you want to know anything about the course PM me and I'll try to respond quickly.

[JacktheCat]

If you want to go for a public\private school job, be advised that the government only recognizes TEFL certificates with at least 100 "in-class" hours towards meeting the requirements of a Level 1 or 2 teacher (with their higher pay).

[Derrek]

My job is Private. My boss told me it didn't matter how many hours the TESL certificate was (but that was to be hired -- not higher pay). I wouldn't put any stock in what he says, though. He's often totally wrong!

[I_Am_Wrong]

[JacktheCat]

[Derrek]

[cellphone]

I'm doing the i-to-i right now. I started a little late but am now swinging into it.

Just finished module 2, which they state is one of the more challenging ones, no doubt.

For now I gotta say I disagree a bit about doing a lesson a day, I've actually been taking and exceeding the alloted time they state. Especially on unit 2, it took me like 4 straight nights, about 4 hours a pop. Easily 12 + hours total. Anyways I got a 91% on it, but I guess when you're doing something to be submitted you take extra time. Anyways I spent lots of extra time reading through a grammar book and double checking my answers. Also I'm at loud and noisy, smoke filled, hot pc cafes so that no doubt makes alot of distraction. People next to me talking away loudly on international call PC phones over to some African countries.

Strangely I haven't received my cd-rom yet even though they said over 2 weeks ago they sent it and reconfirmed it by email.

Anyhow so far in summary, i-to-i seems professional enough which was one thing I was concerned about before. Lessons laid out well so far, and the tutor wrote well in his mails. I haven't picked up any problems. Will say so if I do later.

Prarie, did you finally finish? I didn't order the extra grammar modules for now. I guess I could ask if they'd extend it on mine for the same discount rate I signed up on. I'm sure they would but hope they'd give me the discount as well. But seeing as how I really stretch the time out on each module, maybe this is enough.

[sid]